ONLY one route taxi (ZR) permit and 34 permits for minibuses have been issued in the six years since the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) took office in September 1994. That's according to a response from the Minister of Public Works and Transport to a parliamentary question asked on November 2, 1999, by Leader of the Opposition, David Thompson.

The St. John MP had asked: Will the minister state: 1. The number of public
service vehicles which, at March 1, 1994 and September 6, 1994,
respectively, were licensed as route taxis, limousines, tour buses and
minibuses; and 2. The number of public service vehicle licences which have
been issued in each category in (1) above since September 6, 1994?
The response:
€ "The number of public service vehicles which at March 1, 1994, were
licensed as route taxis, limousines, tour buses and minibuses were: 263
route taxis; 3 limousines; 45 tour buses, and 194 minibuses;
€ the number of public service vehicles which at September 6, 1994, were
licensed as route taxis, limousines, tour buses and minibuses were: 271
route taxis, 7 limousines; 47 tour buses and 211 minibuses.
€ Since September 6, 1994, the number of public service vehicle permits
issued in each category were: 1 route taxi, 43 limousines, 22 tour buses and
34 minibuses."
Thompson had also asked the Leader of the House: Will the minister state if
a ministerial investigation has been conducted into the sale and
distribution of drugs supplied through the Barbados Drug Service and, if so,
the results of the investigation?
The response: "No, Sir."
And: Will the minister state what plans, if any, Government has for the
creation of additional posts at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to accommodate
interns over the next five years?
The response: "The number of interns at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has
been increased from three to 41. The number reflects the carrying capacity
of the
Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a teaching hospital given the number of beds,
consultants, supervisory staff and facilities available."
And: Will the minister state when it is proposed that the Lions Eye Care
Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be opened?
The response: "The facility is open."
And: Will the minister state whether Government has accepted the
recommendation of the Task Force on Nursing made on July 12, 1996, that "the
St. John's Polyclinic should be completed as a priority" and, if so, will
the minister state on what date construction of the polyclinic will resume?
The response: "No further construction work will be undertaken at the site
of the St. John's Polyclinic until it is determined that the site is
suitable for the location of such a facility."
Of the Minister of Information: Will the minister state the amount, if any,
owing by the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to the Insurance
Corporation of Barbados for any CBC staff pension fund or any other purpose
as at 1st August, 1999?
The response: "As at August 1, 1999, the amounts owed by the Caribbean
Broadcasting Corporation to the Insurance Corporation of Barbados were:
(a) $1 284 442.06 in respect of the Staff Pension Fund;
(b) $93 567.06 in respect of General Insurance Liability; and
(c) $1 154 875.00 in respect of the Statutory Corporation Pension Fund."
Of the Minister of Public Works and Transport: 1.  Is the minister aware of
the condition of the road leading from Foster Hall to Bath in St. John?  2.
Is the minister aware of the number of accidents which have occurred on this
road? 3.  Will the minister state whether there is a programme in place to
effect repairs to this road?  4. Will the minister further state when such a
programme is likely to be effected?
The response: 1. "Yes, Sir." 2.  "No, Sir."  3. "Yes, Sir."
4. "The Ministry of Public Works and Transport will be undertaking the road
works to the Bath Road area during this current financial year."
Denis Kellman, (DLP-St. Lucy MP) asked the Leader of the House on November
9, 1999: Will the minister state: (a) whether Government has reviewed the
design of the Greenland landfill and (b) whether Government proposes to
proceed with the opening of the landfill? (2) Will the minister further
state the costs, including consultants fees and all capital expenditure, in
respect of the construction of the landfill as at 1st November, 1999 of
maintaining the landfill?
The response: 
1. (a) "Yes, Sir."
(b) "Yes, Sir."
2. "Based on the records of the Sewerage and Solid Waste Project Unit, the
cost of construction of the landfill (including consultants' fees and all
capital expenditure) is BDS$22 457 528.45 as at November 1999.
3. The cost of maintaining the Greenland landfill as at November 1, 1999 is
BDS$738 061.55."